Edible product and process for its production



Oct. 16, 1945. M. l. BALzARlNl 2,336,775

EDIBLE PRODUCT AND PROCESS FOR ITS PRODUCTION Filed Aug. s, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 Hm n .ma www ma@ Oct. 16, 1945. M. L, BALzARlNx 2,386,775

EDIBLE PRODUCT AND PROCESS FOR ITS PRODUCTION W afm ,L /U y f/ Y; I@

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Patented @ctt i6, i945 nomia PRODUCT AND PROCESS ron rrs PRODUCTION v Martin Louis Balzarinl, Rockport, Mass., assignor of one-fourth to Bennett H. Levenson, Washington, D. C.

9 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of preparing edibles of animal origin. More particularly it pertains to the production of meat products of a fatty nature, and embraces among its features, novelty of method and apparatus utilized in the obtention of a product innovation. While the invention is of broad application, a primary embodiment thereof involves a uniform sheet of fatty material adaptable for enveloping meats, preparatory to a roasting treatment, as well as the process and means devised for its production.

In modern market practice, the iirst step in the preparation of choice cuts of meat for roasting treatment involves removal therefrom of essentially all fat and gristle. The resulting trimmed meat is then enveloped either wholly or partially in a sheet or layer of fat intended to retain the meat juices and provide the essential roasting iiuid. However, various diiiiculties have been encountered in the preparation of a requisite sheet of fatty material, and the product heretofore attainable has not been entirely satisfactory.

It is known to produce strips of fat applicable to the wrapping of beef roasts by Working pieces of fat through the conveyor screw housing of a meat grinding machine, from which the cutting element and end perforated disc have been removed, into a funnel means adapted to cross the fat bers; thence the mass is conducted to a shaping passageway. Suchy procedure and apparatus does not contemplate the production of a sheet offatty material having a substantially enlarged width, as compared with the diameter of the conveyor screw housing. Moreover, the product manifests perviousness in some measure to the meat fluids and, in view of its fibrous characteristics, Will result in the presence of residual fat at the end of the roasting procedure.

To obviate such undesirable residual material after roasting, it has been found effective to disintegrate or disaggregate the fibrous structure of the fatty material utilized in producing the enveloping sheet, by resort to a meat grinder machine. The manual conversion of this ground material into a sheet form, in addition to embodying tedious manipulation, results in a product devoid of uniformity and objectionably pervious to meat fluids, such as blood; such criticisms are conceded to be significant details in affecting the utility of the ultimate product.

Attempts to utilize mechanical means in the preparation of a layer of disaggregated fat by a coordination of cutting and shaping devices have proven ineffective, since they do not lend themselves to the obtention of a product of desirable dimension. For example, where a shaping attachment, .adapted to provide a fat sheet of enlarged Width substantially in excess of the diameter of a meat grinder, has been utilized in direct association with the outlet of said cutting or grinding device, there has been a denite tendency toward the formation of three irregularly disconnected sheets; this undesirable result may be attributable to an inherent characteristic of such an apparatus combination to exert the conveyor pressure essentially through straight lines, which results in a concentration of pressure at the central portion of the shaping device outlet, corresponding with the outlet diameter of the meat grinder.

It is an object of my invention to obviate such difficulties and uncertainties as hereinabove referred to by an improved method and apparatus for producing a novel product.

An important object is to obtain a uniform, coherent sheet of a disaggregated fatty material which is essentially impervious to meat uids and the like.

Another object is to provide a method for producing an enlarged sheet of fatty material having the aforementioned attributes.

A further object is to devise a method for expeditiously producing an enlarged uniform, coherent sheet of fattymaterial having its brous structure essentially completely disaggregated.

An additional object of the invention is to attain'an apparatus adapted to effectively prepare a sheet of lmeat wrapping fat of the type disclosed.

Still another object is the provision of a simple, sturdyr attachment for a complete meat grinder device adapted to directly produce a sheet of fatty material of substantially enlarged width 'compared with the diameter of the meat grinder outlet.

Other objects, advantages, and features of my invention will become apparent from the following description to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which similar elements are designated by like numerals:

Figure 1 presents a side elevational view partly in section including the combination of meat grinder, spreader and shaping attachment, and supplementary appurtenances, such as a contact roller and means for handling the sheet of fatty material issuing from the said attachment.

Figure 2 is a perspective detail of the locking association between the component parts of the spreader means, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 2a indicates in sectional elevation an alternative modification of the interlocking features between the separable parts of the spreader means.

Figure 3 shows a plan view along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1, indicating among other details the relative association between the shaping nozzle of the spreader and the roller adapted to contact the formed sheet of material as it issues from the nozzle outlet.

Figure 4 is a front end view of the spreader showing the nozzle and one design of shaping orifice, together with means for mounting the appurtenances on the nozzle.

Figure 5 is drawn to an alternative modification of the spreader-nozzle structure, as well as the association of attendant supplementary parts.

Figure 6 offers a perspective indication of a preferred deiiector means.

Figure '7 is a front detail showing of a modified nozzle orince design.

Referring more particularly to the details of structure shown in the various figures of the drawings. the housing of an ordinary meat cutter v The spreader means attachment broadly indicated by numeral 5 embraces among its component parts conduit portion l, spreader means 1,

- shaping nozzle 23 having orifice t, and may include as an integral element thereof heating means 9, although the latter may conveniently comprise a separable heating unit.

It will be noted that one end of the cylindrical conduit portion i is anged as shown at I0 to provide a uniform contact surface Il adapted to snugly fit against the peripheral portion of perforated extruding disc 4 as well as housing I. Thus bythe expedient of an annular ring I2 seated on the flange I Il and internally threaded t`o coordinate with the external threads I I of the end portion of the meat grinder housing, conduit 3 may be rigidly attached In operative association with the meat cutter or grinder outlet. Annular ring l2 may conveniently be integral with the inner portion of a hand-tightening wheel conventionally utilized for the end closure of a meat grinder device. and of which only the web means I2' is indicated. Desirablv the internal diameter of conduit 3 should be at least equal to the diametric dimension nf the perforated portion of the extruding plate disc l: as shown in Figure 1, the

.conduit diameter is somewhat larger to convenuntil the flange contacts with seat I3 of the ring.

This assembly is then affixed to the end of the meat grinder housing, in accordance with the foregoing description.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2., the peripheral portion of conduit l located toward the en`d opposite ange Il. is cut to provide opposing bayonet slots Il. Portion Il of spreader means 1,

which is shown designed with its free end of a diameter somewhat less than that of conduit l, is fitted with means to afford a suitable interlocking of the spreader 1 with the conduit 3. Pursuant to the drawings, I1 represents a short stud protruding from the surface of spreader portion it, and I8 designates a surface threaded short bolt having one end thereof retained contiguous to the inner surface of portion Il by the expedient of an enlarged head or washer element Il. with a wing nut I9' positioned at the ODDOSIDS end of the bolt. Stud I1 and short bolt I3 are relatively positioned in a manner to respectively engage the aforementioned bayonet slots II for an interlocking association. By tightening up on the wing nut I3, conduit 8 and spreader 1 become rigidly affixed to each other and constitute a unitary attachment, of which components l and 1 may be separated at will.

In accordance with the modification of Figure 2a, a bayonet slot I5 is formed on the peripheral surface at vthe free end of portion I3 of the spreader means. The entire conduit 8, or at least the end portion thereof opposite flange I3, may be of a diameter slightly less than that near the free end of portion Il-in order to attain a snug overlapping association when the rst named means is fitted into the latter. Appropriately spaced apart from the bayonet slot Il at a substantially opposing point on the periphery of portion I0 there is provided an opening 5l, desirably, although not necessarily, internally threaded through which surface threaded wing bolt B3 may be screwed into an appropriately positioned internally threaded boss 51, or equivalent means. on the internal periphery/ of conduit I. A stud I1 protrudes from the outer surface of conduit 3 for coordinated association with slot Ii when conduit 6 is fitted into .portion Il ina manner to align boss 51 with opening 55. Upon threading wing bolt 58 into 55, 51 to interlock conduit i with the spreader means, a desirable integral attachment is attained similar to that shown in Figure 2.

A preferred embodiment of spreader element comprises the aforementioned cylindrical portion I6 adapted for a coordinated t with conduit I. and part 20, which in vertical elevation manifests an inward tapering toward nozzle 23 and in horizontal elevation flares outwardly, as shown in Figure 3, toward nozzle 23, whereby the material treated is spread to the desired width and thickness. Diife'rently stated, the inward taper of the vertical plane of the spreader element determines the thickness of sheet, whereas the outward flare or taper controls the width o f the sheet formed.

Angularly shaped deflectors 2| have `been found effective in regulating the dow of material through the spreader portion 20 outwardly to the desired. width; as shown in Figure 6. lthe deector may expedlently be designed to have rounded edges 22 which tend to obviate any impediment to the normal flow of material. Where the material utilized in the fabrication of the spreader is sufficiently sturdy to withstand the reasonable pressures developed in the nozzle, a prolongation of portion 2l of the spreader means may appropriately functionl as nozzle 23", in accordance with the showing of Figure 5. It will be apparent that the opposing sides Vdetermining the nozzle are generally in parallel planes, although a slight convergence of the horizontal walls has been found conducive to the fat sheet formation.

A particularly effective nozzle embodiment is that designated as 23 in Figures l, 3 and 4. jThis modification is fabricated independently of the spreader and desirably of material which is especially sturdy in character, and capable of withstanding any pressures developed within the nozzle as well as supporting substantial loads, that may be attached thereto. Desirably, the opposing horizontal walls of nozzle 23 manifest a slight convergence, as in the case of nozzle 8. By resorting to a slight curvature 24 approaching the oriiice edge, applicable to either modification of nozzle shown, the important coordinated function of roller relative to the nozzle orifice is substantially facilitated. As apparent from Figures 3 and 4. the structure of nozzle 23 may be designed to extend laterally substantially beyond the edges of the orifice per se to thereby provide end portions 5B for attachment and support of the appurtenances involved in the processing of the fat sheet, as will be further described hereinbelow. Shaping nozzle 23 should preferably be afdxed to spreader l in a permanent manner illustrated by welding or riveting.

The shape of nozzle orifice may be in accordance with any predetermined design to provide any predetermined form or shape. While in Figure d it is shown as substantially rectangular, various other shapes may be resorted to, dependent upon the desired form characteristics of the contemplated sheet of fatty material. Where the orifice design is such as to taper at the ends, as shown in Figure '7, the resultant fat sheet will issue with thin edges susceptible for uniform overlapping when utilized as an enveloping or wrapping means for meat or the like. It will be clear that the dimensions of the orifice will ultimately determine the significant width and thickness of the sheet product obtained.

Within the housing of heating unit 9, shown in Figure l, are electric heating coils 2E that conneet with terminals 2l to which are attached lead wires 2@ vhaving at their end a conventional plug 2li. The numeral 30 designates a heat insulating cover for the coil housing and may also desirably manifest electrical insulation properties. Over coils 26 there is positioned material 3l having electrical nonconducting characteristics and preferably also function in the dual capacity of heat insulator; illustrative of this material is asbestos sheeting or ller. Beneath coils 26 and preferably surrounding them are located thin sheets ofy electrical insulation 32 exemplified by strips ofmica, which may also be utilized to isolate the coils from the side walls of the heating unit 9.

While the heating unit positioned as shown has proven4 quite eEective and desirable, varia- Relative to the appurtenances shown in Fig' ures l, 3 and 4, they may as previously indicated, be expediently mounted on the shaping nozzle. By way of illustration, and not of limitation. supporting brackets 38 and 39 are aillxed to the upper and lower surfaces 63 and 64 respectively, of nozzle 23, at the end portions thereof which extend beyond the nozzle orifice per se.

is attained by the insertion of surface tions relative thereto will be clear to one versed threaded slotted bolts 36 through openings in the angular or flanged ends 34 and 36 of said brackets as well as through corresponding openings through the ends 5B of the nozzle, and tightening up on nuts S1. The said supporting brackets are provided with openings or slots 42 for paper supplying shafts. Roll d@ desirably represents transparent cellulose paper such as Cellophane, while 4I designates a roll of wax paper.

Pressure roller 46 is rotatably supported on arms s6 which at one extremity 41 are pivotally affixed to supporting brackets 38, by slotted pivot bolt means t8 retained in situ by nuts 64. 'I'he opposing ends of arms 46 may have angular portions G and are attached to tension springs 60 through openings 49; the opposite extremity of said spring, which is shaped in hook form 5i, engages eyelet 52 positioned on the side surfaces of meat board l. As shown in Figure 1, pressure roller 65 actually rests on the nozzle 23 at substantially the upper edge of the orifice; it is positioned to substantially obstruct the passage of the fat sheet from the orifice, in the sense that as the sheet emerges from the orice its upper portion contacts the roller which subjects its weight to the sheet under the inuence of springs 5t. By this structural arrangement the possibility of any buckling or wrlnkling of the fat sheet is obviated. Deslrably roller 45 manifests its effect through Cellophane 60 which it simultaneously applies.

It will be apparent from the drawings that the meat board is essentially positioned at an incline relative to the outlet of the shaping nozzle with its upper end disposed in close proximity to, but slightly lower than the nozzle orifice. 'I'he disposition of said meat board is such as to facilitate the passage of the sheet of fatty material emerging from the spreader and shaping attachment, and its surface width'will necessarily be somewhat greater than the orifice width to enable the issuing product to slide thereover without obstruction. The receiving surface of meat board 63 may be highly polished and/or'waxed or smoothly enameled to decrease the coeicient of friction, and is conveniently supplied with guide flanges 54.

The particular manner of supporting the meat board as well as'other app enances are determined largely by circumstan es and expediency. InA the event that the spreader-nozzle attachment is sufficiently rugged to withstand the load, brackets 38 and 39 together with the paper rolls and supplementary elements including the pressure roller may be supported by the arrangement shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, hereinabove described. The meat board 53 can be sustained by brackets 66, keyed by means 61 through coordinated openings ln brackets 66 and 39, the angular portion of brackets 66 being aflixed to the under surface of said meat board at the upper end thereof. The lower end of the meat board is shown in Flgurel to be resting on a table support 10, which may be the base upon which the meat grinding machine is bolted, Should the weight of paper rolls, meat board and other mentioned supplementary' elements be excessive, the load may be sustained by any expedient external means. By way'of suggestion only, thedotted indication 1| provides for the utilization of bracket supports 39 of a sufllcient length to contact said table support 10.

While the modication of Figure l discloses they upper end of the meat board ilrounded or beveled to effectively serve as contact guide for wax paper Il passing thereover. Figure discloses the use of guide roller 43. similarly mounted on supporting brackets 3l through appropriate slots or openings for seating its shaft Il; guide roller 4I willfacilitate the supply of paper'from roll 4I and is especially desirable where this paper load is quite substantial; As shown in Figure 5, supporting brackets 3l and I9 may be afdxed to the extremities of nozzle 23', which in this modification comprises a prolongation of spreader portion Il; however, similar to the suggestion above in connection with the nozzle of Figures 1, 3 and 4, supplementary or even independent supporting means may be resorted to in accordance with the dictates of expediency.

It will be notedthat pressure roller 45 is mounted in the modification of Figure 5 proximate to curved portion ,24' of nozzle 23' and partially obstructs the nozzle orifice to the extent that an emerging fat sheet will necessarily contact the lower periphery of the roller; the lower portion of the orifice is substantially free from obstruction. While this arrangement will yield satisfactory results in preventing buckling or wrinkling of the fat sheet issuing from the orifice, the modification shown in Figure 1 is deemed preferable.

The support of the upper end of meat board 53 similarly involves a variation in accordance with Figure 5. Metal'plates 12 are attached to the sides of the meat board by screws or similar means Il .and are provided with openings for coinciding with the openings for shaft M in supporting brackets 39: thus, the journalling of.'

Y ing the dimensions of 11 inches long, 3 inches 'I3 independently of shaft M, to supporting brackets I8, is susceptible of effective utilization.

It is obvious that the material of 'which the various parts are fabricated has no critical bearing on this invention and will doubtless be determined froin expediency or preference, in view of the specific use to whichythe device is to be applied. Similarly the dimensional details of the apparatus are subject to widel variation dependent upon the particular circumstances and application; briey stated, it will be necessary to predetermine the shaping nozzle orifice characteristics in order to obtain va .product sheetof desired width and thickness. A tangible embodiment of the spreader attachment, providing excellent results and emphasizing the facility and simplicity of' the constructive design to which the invention lends itself, involves the following details. Conduit 6 is fabricated from a sturdy grade of galvanized sheet metal and has an internal diameter of approximately 23/4 inches,

with flange I0 measuring slightly less than l/2 inch, measured from the internal surface of the conduit. While the length of conduit 8 is approximately'5 inches, when interlocked with the spreader in accordance with Figure 2a, the linear dimension of conduit E up to the line of overlapping with portion IG of spreader attachment i is essentially 1% inches. Spreader 1 of attachment 5 is similarly formed from galvanized 40 edges substantially centrally.

applied is approximately 2% inches, so that the overall length of portion I8 is in the vicinity of 41/8 inches. It may be noted in this connection that the heating surface expanse is most simply defined by flanges or annular rings 2B soldered, brazed or welded to the surface of portion Il and spaced apart a predetermined distance-as illustrated by the above indicated 2% inches.

The diverging dimension of spreader 1 from portion I6 to nozzle 23 is approximately 6% inches; differently stated. this constitutes the linear dimension taken in the horizontal plane as shown in Figure 3 between the shaping nozzle element and the heating unit, l, which is superimposed on the surface of portion Il, lc- 4cording to the modification of Figures 1 and 3. Actually this horizontal plane diverging dimension is in excess of the figure specified in view of the fact that spreader 1 extends into the shaping nozzle for at least 1/2 inch. The union'between spreader 1 and shaping nomle 23 is rigidly affected by resort to brazing, welding or similar expedients, care being taken to provide side walls in the shaping nozzle which are essentially in extension of the horizontal plane walls of the spreader. This built up wall extension is indicated by dotted lines 14, Figure 3. The length Iof spreader 'l along the line of union with shapi'ng nozzle 2J is approximately '1% inches.

In the illustrative embodiment being described, the shaping nozzle may conveniently be made from steel sheeting or analogous material hav- IWide, and approximately Vg inch in thickness. It involves cutting out the appropriate nozzle orifice, which in this example is 9% inches in length and approximately V4 inch in thickness: the orifice is located along the longitudinal median line of thestock sheet and spaced from the form, the shaping nozzle is bent on its longitudinal median line so that the longitudinal edges of the sheet overlie each other and are spaced apart approximately 3/4 inch. While the nozzle is essentially of V-shape, tapering toward the orifice, the orifice end is actually rounded, suggestive of a U.

It will be seen from this mode of structure that ends 58 of the nozzle are approximately inch in length. Between the respective ends of the nozzle and built up'wa-ll portions 1l, a gap or space Vexists through which slotted surface threaded bolts may be positioned for retaining supporting brackets. 3l, I! in position. These brackets may be 2'1/2 inches in length, with an angular portion of approximately 1 inch, and the overall width of bracket essentially inch. Arms 46 of thepressure roller are conveniently dimensioned at 3 inches in length with `an angular portion of approximately 1 inch, and a width of essentially 1/2 inch. Pressure roller 4l has functioned quite effectively whenof hard wood,

' approximately 2 inches in diameter, approxisheet metal and portion I6 thereof extending mately 9% inches in length, although including journal spacers it is essentially 11 inches between supports, and having a weight of subdimensions are susceptible to variation, as are the various other details hereinabove described.

In its ultimate Relative to the positioning of the meat board` in the embodiment, specied,l a vertical line distance of approximately %'inch -between the bottom edge of the orice and the surface of the board has functioned quite satisfactorily.A

By way of reiteration, and emphasis, the detailed description of an apparatus embodiment of the invention has been presented merely by way of illustration, andunder no circumstances can it be legitimately construed as in anysense limitative. i.,

vTo facilitate the consideration ofthe broad aspects of the process and the operation of the preferred embodiment ofI apparatus disclosed, these two phases of the Ainvention will be simultaneously discussed. The fatty-material, illustrated by cod orbeef fat, i s supplied to theA meat grinderor cutter I wherein it is conveyed by screw means 2,.,to the cutter element 3 and through perforated extruding disc 4 from which it issues in the well known form of strands. In practical application, to avoid undue strain on the grinder dviceit is advisable first to pass the fat through a meat grinder device, provided with an extruding disc having substantial sized openings-for example, inch-and before the inventive attachment disclosed herein is conriected to said grinder. Subsequently thereto, a

disc having smaller perforations, exemplined by t@ inch, is substituted for the first used extruding disc, the spreader attachment is aixed to the end of the aforesaid meat grinder as previously described, and the previously ground fat may then be passed through the apparatus combination without difficulty. Alternatively the fat may be passed through two meat, grinders arranged in series, the first having the larger size disc perforations and the second the predetermined smaller size.

The resultant disaggregated fatty material passes from the extruding disc into the spreader attachment 5, moving therethrough in contact with the surface heated by heating element 9, thence through the spreader l and out through the shaping nozzle 8. Immediately upon emerging from the shaping nozzle, the sheet contacts pressure roller i5 positioned in direct proximity with the nozzle oriflce and in a manner to partially obstruct or substantially completely obstruct the free horizontalA passage of the material. The curved nozzle outlet shown in Figure 1, as previously indicated, is particularly eective in facilitatingvthe position of the pressure roller relative to the nozzle orifice. Desirably roller 45 contacts the emerging sheet of fat through a. transparent cellulosic material, exemplified by cellophane, thereby simultaneously applying a paper sheet cover to the upper surface of the fatty material. Wax paper 6i unwound from its roll il i covers the surface of meat board 53; as the fat sheet passes onto the said meat board, it is accordingly furnished with a wax paper undercover. Due to the inherent adhesive characteristics manifested by the fat sheet resulting from the inventive process, the wax paper and Cellophane cohere sumciently to the fat sheet to freelyunwind their respective'rolls as the product moves along the meat board I3. 1f desired, however, supplementary pressure rolls may be applied to the paper covered product on the meat board if any uncertainty in the of the paper rolls 1s encountered, although this is deemed quite unnecessary under normal conditions. As

,thefat sheet slides off the\meat board. it is cut to any predetermined length by expedient conventional means; thus, by cutting at notch 'Il v when the emerging end of the' fat sheet reaches the table end of board 53, a predetermined length of sheet isobtained with facility. Y

. A particularly significant feature of the invention resides in the application of heat to the Ifat/ty material passing through the spreader attachment. It has been found that the application of sufficient heating to the disaggregated mass of fatty material to melt a minorv proportion thereof, will result in substantially increasthe coherency ot the mass and provide lu- .brication to facilitate the passage of the disagfiliv gregate'd. fatty mass through the spreader and shaping nozzle. By this important expedient, the tendency of a sheet, having a widthl in excess of the diameterof meat grinder Yhousing and extruding disc, to rupture irregularly into three disconnected sheets is obviated. Diierently stated, the melting, i. e. softening or plasticizing of a minor proportion of fatty material enables the production of a sheet manifesting desirable uniformity characteristics not heretofore attainable. Moreover, and of material importance is the fact that the molten proportion serves to render the ultimate fat sheet essentially impervious to meat fluids and the like.

For the emcient performance of the process, it is clearly desirable to avoid excessive melting, or of a preponderance of molten or softened disaggregated material passing through the spreader-nozzle attachment. The presence oi an unduly large amount of molten fat will, in the absence of special precautions, result in the loss 0f material, render handling generally difficult, and may even thwart the eiiicient production of a uniform sheet of fatty material manifesting suiiicient flexibility to render it utilizable for enveloping meat roasts. In this connection it i8 within the contemplation of the invention to provide any desirable cooling subsequent to the heating treatment, if for any reason the heating treatment is carried to the point of attaining a substantial proportion of molten material; by this cooling expedient, it will be apparent that a control is available to obviate the presence of excessive oils at the point where the fatty material is shaped and emerges from the nozzle. An optimum range of melting is estimated to be between approximately 5% and 25% of the mass of fatty material passing through the spreader attachment. A particularly effective value indicative of the molten fat proportion is considered to be approximately 10-15%.

It should, however, be borne in mind that the performing the process do not contemplate loss of fat by the draining and owing away of the melted portion; by contradistinction, the proportion of fat which is fluidized is essentially adsorbed or retained by the remainder of the mass.

In general, the performance of the process involves the melting of a minor proportion of dise aggregated fat. Within the contemplation of this terminology the proportion may approach as much as approximately 50% of the total mass. While such a high molten percentage may be excessive -for practical operation, without special precautions such as cooling, it is operatively within the scope of the disclosure. By resort to such special precautions. this proportion may be materially exceeded even to the point of substantially complete melting; however.` the sheets resulting from too great an excess' of melting may for normal roasting usage be less satisfactory due to a tendency to fiuidize too rapidly and to a progressive diminution of sheet flexibility with increase in nfolten proportion of the sheet.

While, in accordance with the apparatus utilized, it is. especially advantageous to attain the melting of fatty material circumferentially of the disaggregated mass passing through the attachment, it is not intended modification.

It will be apparent that, even though the heat be supplied internally of the mass of fatty mate- -to be restricted to this rial, as it moves through lthe spreader, the fluid dence of some melting manifested by visible surface melting and by general softening, whereas the internal body of the mass has been substantially unaffected by the heat trentment. 'I'hus the ultimate product orarticle may comprise a compact core or body portion of ground Vor disaggregated fatty material in a heterogeneous state, with a smooth, uniform, fluid-impervious coating or sheath of fatty material enveloping the said core or body portion.

In this way, the predetermined proportion and type of fatty material in the desired state of plasticity or fluidity is present in the mass to be extruded in sheet form and distributed therethrough.

Thus a predetermined quantity of fatty material may be rendered molten or plastic inthe desired degree byheating, by pressure at appropriate temperature or by addition of soft fatty material, and blended with the mass of material lto be extruded in sheet form by appropriatelyI subjected in its passage through the spreader attachment will inevitably be affected by a wide diversity of variable conditions. Among these are noted the melting temperature of the particular fat or blend thereof used in the process; the percent of molten material contemplated; the

assems heating surface; the distance of the heating lurface from the shamng nozzle orifice; the heating surface area; the temperature of thefatty material when brought into contact with the heating means; the neat design' cnaracteristi/ or the spreader-nozzle attachment; etc., etc. It is accordingly apparent that no fixed temperature value can be generally applicable.

The broad adaptability of the invention renders possible substantial variation as to details of process and apparatus without altering the features thereof. The following is presented merely -to attain a preliminary temperature rise at the heating zone prior to passage of disaggregated fat therethrough. Trial tests have indicated that for the above described device, this time interval,

`in the absence'of any cool fat passing through,

will provide a temperature of between approximately 150 `Ii'. and 190 E. Longer intervals, such as 6 to 'I minutes will provide starting temperatures of'between approximately 200 F. and 230. F. which is notfconsidered necessary.

Having attained the desired preliminary heating, the disaggregated. fat, having a temperature of approximately 40 F. to 45 F., was passed through the spreader attachment form a` continuous length of fat sheet of su ntlally 91/4 inches width and '/4 inch thickn Sheets of 40 24 inch length were cut by passing a knife edge rate vof passage of said-fatty material over the 75 into slot 1I. when-the emerging end of the product reached the table end of the meat board I3. While the specified fat sheet dimensions have been ascertained as desirable for all normal demands, there is no intent to be restricted to any specific dimension o'f sheet product. The rate at which the disaggregated fat was passed through the device varied with the extent of manual tamping of the material at the supply end of the meat grinder device. With average tamping, nished sheetsf of 24 inch length were obtained in between 17 and 23 seconds, weighing approximately 2% lbs.

In the illustrative procedure given above, the temperature of the sheet issuing from the nozzle was not materially in excess of the temperature of the disaggregated starting material supplied to the spreader means. The increase in temperature is, however, subject to variation dependent upon the initial temperature of the fatty material, the extent of melting to which thedisaggregated fatty material is subjected, the time interval of heating, the temperature of the atmosphere. as well as many other. collateral eects obvious to one skilled in the art. I v

While the temperature in the heating zone will rise above that at the commencement of the process, there is no tendency toward excessive melting, as 1ong as the cold disaggregated fat is being fed through the device. Accordingly, when terminating the procedure for any reason, the heat circuit should be opened to avoid undue fluidiration of the fatty material located in the heating une,

A simple alternative method of procedure is to expose the ground fat or similar material to such heating conditions as will assure melting a subpriate refrigerating or cooling jacket or encasement means applied to an appropriate peripheral area of said nozzle. Where the complete apparatus combination shown in the drawings is mounted within a refrigerator maintained at a suillciently low temperature, the supplementary cooling means will inl accordance with the circumstances. be dispensed with. However, resort to this cooling expedient is desirable only where an excessive proportion of fat is melted; under optimum conditions of operation such cooling is denitelyy unnecessary.

From a general standpoint, the heating details will be determined with facility by any skilled person to satisfy the prevailing procedural circumstances, and for a given apparatus set-up.

By virtue of the method and apparatus hereinbefore described, the disaggregated fatty material is converted into a uniform, homogeneous product of predetermined width and thickness. It is essentially devoidv of fibrous structure, substantially uid impervious, and susceptible to complete dissolution pursuant to normal roasting treatment of the meat which it envelops. As the sheet of fatty material issues from the apparatus, it is preferably encased by transparent cellulosic paper, as Cellophane, on one surface thereof and wax paper on the other. Noteworthy is the fact that a meat roast may be enveloped by a sheet of disaggregated fatty material, covered with Cellophane and produced as herein, several days in advance of contemplated sale without evidences of a murky brown coloration on the inner surface of the Cellophane which is attributable to meat uids seeping through a pervious fat sheet. This iS a matter of material significance in view of the conceded effect of appearance on salability of the roast.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to the treatment of disaggregated fatty material to form a sheet which constitutes a material improvement over prior art products, distinct advantages are attainable in the treatment of fatty material, in accordance with the present disclosure, which has not been disaggregated as described herein. Thus by subjecting to a heat treatment pursuant to the present method a natural fatty material aggregate per se, or one which has been treated to rupture its structure, but is not ground or disaggregated as by passing the fatty material through a meat grinder provided with its normal cutting and extruding means, the formation of molten material during the passage of the fat through the spreader attachment will likewise function to improve the cohering characteristics of the mate-K rial, lubricate its movement through the apparatus, and render the sheet formed essentially uid impervious.

The expressionI fatty material as utilized in the present application is intended to embrace any substance which is adapted to envelop meat and function to facilitate the roasting thereof. It particularly includes the well-known fats of animal origin illustrated by tallow,A cod fat, suet as well as blends or admixtures of such fatty materials. It is not essential that the material be exclusively of a fatty nature to fall within the scope of the expression. It is within the contemplation of the indicated terminology to include any suitable material which is preponderantly of a fatty nature; thus a sheet may, for example, contain a substantial proportion of ground meat, provided fatty material is present in preponderant quantity.

By way of further modification 'within the contemplation of the disclosure, the procedure described herein lends itself to the preparation of meat products embracing a'substantial proportion of fat atleast in sunlcient quantity to enable the formation of a fluid impervious coating.

Thus a blended meat product may be obtained by disagsregating a mixture of meat and fatty material, the proportion ofthe latter being at least sufficient to provide a fluid impervious coating for the meat. Desirably the quantity of fatty material in the blended mixture should be sunlcient for any subsequent cooking treatment contemplated. The disaggregated mixture is subjected to heating, as hereinabove described, in

order to melt a sulcient quantity ofthe fatty material to aiIord on cooling a protective and fluid impervious function. Subsequently to the heat treatment, the mixture will preferably be manipulated in any predetermined manner, either as herein described or according to prior art practices for converting the sameto any desirable shapeor form. In this manner, meat shapes or patties can be prepared which are susceptible to retention for substantial intervals of time without the usual spoilage, tainting or discoloration occurring as a result of normal exposure to the atmosphere.

` In accordance with the foregoing description, it is apparent that the apparatus embodies an expeditious means which may be effectively utilized in the performance of a novel method to attain a new product.

While I have described my invention in accordance with preferred embodiments, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and procedure, as well as in the combination and arrangement of parts or steps without departing from the spirit of invention-as defined in the following claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, I claim:

l. A fatty article of predetermined form comprising in major proportion a compact body portion of disaggregated fatty material, and in minor proportion a substantially uniform huid-impervious sheath of fatty material enveloping said body portion. Y

2. A compact sheet of fatty material comprising in major proportion a heterogeneous core of disaggregated animal fat, and in minor proportion a substantially uniform homogeneous, fluid-impervious sheath of animal fat enveloping said core.

3. A sheet of fatty material comprising in major proportion a compact heterogeneous core of disaggregated animal fat, and in minor proportion a substantially uniform homogeneous, uidimpervious sheath of animal fat, which has been molten and solidified, enveloping said core.

4. The method of producing a substantially uniform, fluid-impervious sheet of animal tallow which comprises disaggregating tallow,Q heating the surface of said disaggregated mass to a temperature sufficient to melt a minor portion thereof, spreading and compacting the mass, and conveylns said mass through a sheet-forming sone.

5. The method of treating animal fat which comprises disagsrelating the animal fat, melting a proportion of the resultant mass in quantity suilicient to provide a fluid-impervious homogeneous sheath upon'cooling. spreading and compactlng said mass, into the form of a uniform sheet, and coolingthe sheet.

6. The method of producing an enlarged uniform, fluid impervious sheet of fatty material which comprises grinding said material, melting a minor proportion thereof along its peripheral surface to lubricate its passage and increase the cohesiveness of the mass, spreading and compacting the mass during its passage through a spreading and compacting sone and then through a sheet forming sone.

w 7. The method of producing a uniform. fluid impervious sheet o'f fatty material which comprises disaggregating said material, melting a minorI proportion of said disaggregated mass spreading and compacting the same during its .passage through a spreading and compacting zone, thereby lubricating the passage of the material and increasing its cohesive characteristics, forming the resultant mass into a sheet, and then simultaneously applying to the sheet of fatty materials. transparent cellulosic paper cover from a assume roll thereof to the upper surface and a wax paper cover from a roll thereof to the under surface, the inherent adhesive characteristics of the fatty material facilitating the unwinding of the paper from their respective rolls.

8. The method of producing blended meat products which comprises disaggregating a mixture of meat and a substantial quantity of fatty material, meiting a sufiicient portion of said fatty material along the peripheral surface of said disagsreilated mixture of meat and fatty material to provide a fluid impervious coating. and compacting and shaping the mixture to the desired form.

9. The method of producing a uniform sheet of fatty material which comprises grinding cool fatty material. passing said ground material through a conduit having a heating surface temperature within the approximate range of 150 degrees F. to 230 degrees F. to melt a minor portion of said fatty material, spreading the heated mass and compacting the same by passage through a spreading and compacting sone, and forming the mass into a sheet by passage through a sheet forming zone, whereby a compact fluid impervious sheet is obtained.

MARTIN LOUIS BAIZARINI. 

